The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-07
The Flying DuJcni"iin,
New York Sun.

ing rom DOSl OH Htouhu Se'IS
heard OF the Flying Dutchman. As
boy | believed in all the yarns bus py
the time was out OF my apprentice
shin | came to take these stories Tor
what they were worth. lam going TO
tell you, however, that I really saw
as mysterious craft as the tradi-
tional ghost ship, and that II my eyes
we're deceived so were the optics OF q
whole ships company.
In April, 1868, was mate OF an
English whaling bark called the LORD
Rossmore, Capt Pierce McConnell,
and we were off the mouth OF the
Amazon. We had been out three
months, and were having big run OF
luck. The weather seemed to maze
for our special benefit. There was
day after day OF good working WINDS
and smooth seas, and there was no
day in which we did not sight whales.
On the day OF which | WISH TO
speak particularly we had killed
two fine whales. and by even
ING both we're alongside and the sea
was rs calm rs mill-pond Weshoud
have begun the cutting-in process at
once, but the decks were not vet clear
OF the last whale, while gI5 men we've
so worn out that they clamored Tor
nights rest. The baron attr was high,
the sea smooth, and tn captain ~
suel orders for all the n..n 70 knock
off This meant that the oil watch
should have their hunks, while the on
watch could sleep on deck while on
duty. There wasn't wind enough 10
drift MS, and consequently we had no
fear OF any vessels eXcert steamers,
and they would hardly ruu Us down
on such u clear night TINT our snip
could be seen u mile away. l own that
as soon as the vessel grew quiet ! went
to sleep on my post, and that ! Slept
| for n long hour. When | awoke II was
with chill ofapprehension. felt that
something was very wrors, and ut once
inspected the decks from stem to stern;
! The men OF my watch were stretched
out here and there all last asleep
and everything seemed alright we
had q whale on either side, and they
were riding buoyantly, while halt a
dozen sharks were tearing at ;heir
rough hides. Our night lights were al
right, everything safe from fire, and
called myself fool for thinking hat
ANYTHING was wrong Nevertheless |
continued worried and uest oa,, and
the desire to sleep left me entirely.
1t might have been hall an hour ait
err my Weakening, and was softly pac-
iny the deck, taking IN its "'""'o ''N.th,
when a large, square-riy sap, with
every sail set, and seemenJ to draw,
came out OF the darkness { . therorth-
east. She had bone a. ner teeth.
and her hull was careened over NO or
three streaks by the pressure OF TIM
wind, and for the moment I ,orgo;
VIII ere | was and the c.l,lrs anc1t
which surrounded me. Thsshiu stood
down TO pass under our quartz" AMI
never tool, my eyes OF her Tor ln ~
slant. She came swiftly, ba' thers
was ghost-like movement th2t sent
chills over me. As II she wore p real
ship, and as ii q genuine top5a'l
breeze were blowing, on came the
stranger, and a. she wa5 within 4
cables length she shifted her helm y
bit. and the two craft wer" hroUdslNe
on Tor a moment. There wnrn twonf5N
five or thirty men at the snip poF
rail watching Us in true sailor. Wts~
and on the quarter deck ! s1w ~
captain surveying us throuh hr
nigl I glasses. | could see th0' DE Wa
an old man, having long white Iock4
and long white beard. Why SIR. Z
would stake my lie on what J saw,
though il would be useless 10 try to
make you believe it. Jus, as the tern
OF the ship was passing me her cap
tain raised his hand, rs il the motion
accompanied an order, and there was
a rush OF the men to eXecL q lt. SAIL
was taken in while you can snap your
fiEer and the helm was put down,
and the ship came into the wind. She
wasn't stones throw away then,
and my eyes were still on ner, when
some one behind me hoarsely eXclalm.
ed
MY God Mr.. Merwin, but did you
ever see the likes OF ity'
turned to see one OF the men be-
hind me. turned from him again -
the strange craft, and she was Gomez
1t took me two or three minutes to
realize that there was no wind and no
sea. and that no ship could have ma
nnuvered as she did, and then ! asked
OF the man:
"Jones, what did you see?''
al got n chill, sir, though it's warm
enough, as we all know, and awoke
TO find You looking off at the water.
As stood on my feet | saw the ship,
and was right behind you when she
shortened sail and came up"